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Call for Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee Indigenous Caucus Members (for a term beginning April 1, 2025)

The Indigenous Caucus is comprised of the Indigenous members of the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (the “Committee” or “IAMC”) for the Trans Mountain Pipelines and Marine Shipping (“TMX”). The IAMC was intended to operate for the life of the TMX project. Federal funding for the IAMC has been secured until March 31, 2027.

The current Indigenous Caucus’ mandate will expire on March 31, 2025. The communities affected by TMX will have the opportunity to select a representative for the Indigenous Caucus member for the next term: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2027. The Indigenous Communities are invited to participate in the upcoming process for the selection of Indigenous Caucus members.

The 13-member Indigenous Caucus includes representatives from:

  1. Alberta First Nations (3 representatives)
  2. Alberta Métis (1 representative)
  3. BC Interior (1 representative)
  4. BC Métis (1 representative)
  5. Burrard Inlet/Lower Fraser (1 representative)
  6. Fraser Valley (1 representative)
  7. Mid-Fraser/Thompson (1 representative)
  8. Okanagan (1 representative)
  9. Vancouver Island – South (1 representative)
  10. Vancouver Island – Southeast (1 representative)
  11. Vancouver Island – Western Approach (1 representative)

Background on the Committee

The Committee was established in 2017.1 The Committee brings together six senior representatives from federal government departments and regulators who are involved in the TMX Project,2 and thirteen Indigenous representatives, selected from among the 129 potentially impacted communities along the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline corridor and marine shipping lanes, to provide advice to regulators and to monitor the Trans Mountain Expansion.

Committee Members have a shared goal of safety and protection of environmental and Indigenous interests in the lands and water. The Committee’s activities center on advice and

monitoring on the safety, environmental and socio-economic aspects of the existing and proposed pipeline and associated marine shipping. The Committee is also working to seek regulatory change, arising from their experience in the IAMC-TMX project.

The Role of Indigenous Caucus

A key component of the Committee is the thirteen-member Indigenous Caucus, which works to bring issues of concern from Indigenous communities to the work of the Committee. The structure of the Committee, on which the Indigenous Caucus comprises a majority of members, allows Indigenous Caucus to play a deciding role in setting the agenda and priorities of the Committee.

The Committee meets at least quarterly, and more frequently as agreed to by the Committee. The Committee has several subcommittees and working groups to support its work, including Indigenous Monitoring, Marine Shipping, Socioeconomic and Emergency Management. Indigenous Caucus members sit on these subcommittees and working groups.

The time commitment for Indigenous Caucus members can vary, depending on what responsibilities Indigenous Caucus members take on. Some Indigenous Caucus members dedicate the majority of their time to Caucus work, whereas others contribute their valuable insights through participation in more targeted projects and initiatives.

It is important that Indigenous Caucus Members have sufficient time and ability to participate in Committee meetings and in sub-committee work, and that Indigenous communities trust the Indigenous representatives of their region to advance their interests and perspectives. Indigenous Caucus members are compensated for their participation in the IAMC through honoraria and travel expenses covered by the Caucus.

Proposed Selection Process

The Committee’s Terms of Reference (“TOR”) require that Indigenous Caucus develop methods for the selection of members of the Caucus and that it initiates a process for Indigenous Communities to determine how members of the Caucus will be selected, and the terms for those Caucus members going forward.

JFK Law Corporation will administer the selection process of Indigenous Caucus members.

We wish to facilitate a transparent and flexible selection process that can be tailored for each region, to allow each region to select members in a manner that suits that region.

Selection by Consensus

If a region is able to select a representative by consensus, then this approach may be pursued. A consensus, for instance, may be a Tribal Council Resolution, a signed letter of support from elected Chiefs of a majority of Indigenous communities in the region, or another approach that reaches consensus. If your region is able to select a representative by consensus before the end of the nomination period, then the name of the representative and supporting material demonstrating consensus should be communicated to Maya Ollek by email at mollek@jfklaw.ca as early as possible and by no later than 10:59pm PST/11:59pm MT on March 3, 2025.

Nominations

JFK will receive nominations for the position of Caucus member for your region up to 10:59 pm PST/11:59 pm MST on March 3, 2025. Nominations must be sent by email to Maya Ollek by email at mollek@jfklaw.ca. Nominations must include the candidate’s name, First Nation, and a brief statement of interest. Candidates may nominate themselves.

Next steps

If more than one nomination is received by March 3, 2025, or if no consensus is reached for a regional representative before that date, JFK Law will reach out to each region regarding next steps to evaluate what other selection processes may be followed, up to and including an election. If a further selection process is required, each community will be entitled to one regional representative selection vote

If you have any questions, please contact JFK Law (Maya Ollek) by email at mollek@jfklaw.ca or by phone at 778-819-3853.

  1. More information about the Committee is available on its website (Home – IAMC-TMX) and the Terms of Reference (IAMC-TMX TERMS OF REFERENCE, AMENDED SEPTEMBER 2021 – IAMC-TMX). ↩︎
  2. Natural Resources Canada; Canada Energy Regulator; Transport Canada; Fisheries and Ocean Canada; the Canadian Coast Guard; and Environment and Climate Change Canada ↩︎

IAMC-TMX

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Today, we pause to honour and remember. December 6 marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, commemorating the 14 women murdered at Montréal’s École Polytechnique in 1989. This day reminds us of the urgent need to end gender-based violence in all its forms. For the IAMC-TMX Socioeconomic Subcommittee (SESC), this commitment is deeply connected to our work. We advocate for the safety, security, and economic well-being of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in the context of resource development. Our efforts include: • Advancing Action Plan Measure 12 (APM 12) under the UNDRIP Act to protect Indigenous women and gender-diverse people in infrastructure projects. • Promoting wise practices for community safety and oversight. • Integrating a gendered lens (IGBA+) into emergency management and regulatory frameworks. • Supporting Indigenous-led monitoring and decision-making to address socioeconomic impacts. Violence against women is both a personal tragedy and a systemic issue that intersects with resource development, economic security, and community wellness. Today, and every day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of Indigenous women and gender-diverse people.

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Today, we pause to honour and remember. December 6 marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, commemorating the 14 women murdered at Montréal’s École Polytechnique in 1989. This day reminds us of the urgent need to end gender-based violence in all its forms. For the IAMC-TMX Socioeconomic Subcommittee (SESC), this commitment is deeply connected to our work. We advocate for the safety, security, and economic well-being of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in the context of resource development. Our efforts include: ● Advancing Action Plan Measure 12 (APM 12) under the UNDRIP Act to protect Indigenous women and gender-diverse people in infrastructure projects. ● Promoting wise practices for community safety and oversight. ● Integrating a gendered lens (IGBA+) into emergency management and regulatory frameworks. ● Supporting Indigenous-led monitoring and decision-making to address socioeconomic impacts. Violence against women is both a personal tragedy and a systemic issue that intersects with resource development, economic security, and community wellness. Today, and every day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and promoting Indigenous women and gender-diverse people.

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The socioeconomic subcommittee gathering has come to a close. We ended in a circle, a powerful way to honour the relationships, knowledge and shared purpose of keeping people and communities safer. We are grateful to everyone who shared their voice and energy. Thank you, Mo, for creating the beautiful illustration that captured the knowledge and brilliance from the gathering and participants! A huge thank you to the facilitators, Marcia Turner, Tracy Friedel and many more who made this gathering a success!! Safe travels, everyone.

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Grateful to Christie Charles from the Musqueam Indian Band for welcoming us to your territory and for the beautiful stories and song. Thank you to the Elders Violet and Michael Meguinis from Tsuutina for the circle of prayers, lighting a candle and smudge for all Missing and Murdered Indigenous folks. This morning’s session, we learned about socioeconomic transportation Inequities for Indigenous folks in rural and remote areas with Dr. Tiffany Prete. She talked about how unsafe and unreliable transportation creates real harm, isolating families, limiting access to health care and education, and increasing the risk of violence. Then, we mapped some of the causes of these inequities. Colonial barriers are still here. This afternoon, we discussed the Federal government's Building Canada Act to fast-track and streamline major projects and how we can be ready to promote safety and economy in our Nations.

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As discussions continue at the Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Women Gathering, participants have surfaced critical priorities and reflections shaping the dialogue: ● Lack of access to affordable housing and risk of homelessness ● Sex trafficking linked to work camps and non-local workers ● Mental stresses and depression connected to suicide ● Double burden of gender and racialized discrimination ● Heightened drug trade activity A powerful conversation developed about the 550 missing and murdered males in Alberta. We must stop excluding them from these discussions. Violence and vulnerability affect Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and men, and addressing these realities requires inclusive, systemic solutions. These insights reinforce the need to embed safety, security, and wellness into project planning from the outset through Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis Plus (IGBA+), and community- and Indigenous-led oversight.

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A huge shoutout to Mo Dawson, the talented graphic artist who is capturing the heart of our conversations at the SESC Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Women Gathering. Mo’s visual storytelling is bringing complex discussions to life; turning priorities, reflections, and ideas into powerful images that speak louder than words. It’s a beautiful way to honour the voices in the room and ensure these insights resonate long after the gathering ends. Thank you, Mo, for your incredible work and creativity! https://www.modawsoncreative.com/

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Today and tomorrow (December 4–5, 2025), the IAMC‑TMX Socioeconomic Subcommittee (SESC) is hosting the Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Gender Diverse People in the Context of the Building Canada Act, 2025 on Musqueam xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory (Richmond, BC). This two‑day gathering brings together Indigenous leaders, knowledge holders, and partners to focus on the safety, security (including economic security), and wellness of Indigenous women, girls, two‑spirit and gender diverse (2SLGBTQQIA+) people. We’ll explore what Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) means in the context of accelerated and streamlined infrastructure and resource development stemming from the Building Canada Act, 2025, share wise practices for community safety and oversight, and recognize the importance of Indigenous involvement in condition‑setting and monitoring. The gathering features a range of speakers and engagement activities to surface priorities for future action and research.

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Register now for our Regional Engagement Session in Kamloops on Nov.27. This session is a chance to: • Connect with Nations in your region. • Share your community’s priorities. • Ask questions and guide how IAMC-TMX evolves after the 2025 Line Wide Gathering. Please register for the session closest to your community. Kamloops registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/iamc-tmx-interior-bc-regional-engagement-session-tickets-1838961396039?aff=oddtdtcreator General Regional Engagement information: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/LINEWIDE2025/regionals

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